Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office alerts local residents about phone scam

Scammer asks victims to pay up to avoid arrest

Courtney Cole

11:46 PM, Mar 31, 2014

12:05 AM, Apr 1, 2014

In Okeechobee County

WPTV

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla. - The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office asks local residents to be cautious when accepting and returning calls from people they don't know.

On Monday, deputies received several calls in reference to fraudulent calls being made throughout the area. They said a male subject has been calling residents, identifying himself as James Hall, an employee of the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office.

If the caller doesn't answer, he will leave them a message urging them to "please call." If the victim does return the call, he informs them of pending charges and/or warrants for a family member or their own arrest. Then he concludes the call by demanding money in order to avoid arrest.

This man is not associated with the Sheriff's office, says Michele Bell, spokeswoman for the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office.

If you receive a call like this, contact the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office at (863)-763-3117.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.